Tabla de contenidos para May/June 2025 en Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1936 that works side by side with consumers to create a safe, fair, and transparent market-place. To achieve our mission, we test thousands of products and services in our labs each year and survey hundreds of thousands of consumers about their experiences with products and services. We pay for all the products we rate. We don’t accept paid advertising. In addition to our rigorous research, investigative journalism, and consumer advocacy, we work with other organizations, including media, consumer groups, research and testing consortiums, and philanthropic partners. We also license our content and data, as well as work with business partners to offer shopping and other consumer services, and may receive fees from these programs. We maintain a strict separation between our…

THE LATEST RATINGS FROM OUR LABS WINDOW AIR conditioners have never been as highly valued as central AC systems. But several recent innovations have made many window air conditioners more effective at cooling your rooms, more energy-efficient, and quieter. And a handful of models even perform their cooling magic without obscuring the view from your windows. That’s why, in addition to conventional window units and portable models, CR testers evaluate air conditioners with “inverter” technology and U-shaped ACs, both of which offer important advantages. They aren’t perfect, however, so we’ll discuss their limitations as well. We’ll also tell you about mini-split AC systems, which offer some of the benefits of a central air conditioning system without quite as much up-front cost or construction mess. In short, with this guide, you…

1 Food gets contaminated. Harmful bacteria that animals carry in their gut can contaminate meat during slaughter or processing. The bacteria can spread to fruits and vegetables when soil or irrigation water is polluted by animal waste. Bacteria can also get into food during harvesting, transport, or processing. 2 The tainted food reaches consumers. It can be sold directly to shoppers at the supermarket or used as an ingredient in other foods they buy, like prepared salads or frozen meals. Restaurants or cafeterias may also serve the contaminated food. 3 People become ill and officials are notified. Most sick people recover on their own, and the illness is never reported. Others may seek medical attention and be tested for foodborne illness. When a test is positive, state health officials share…

AT THE SUPERMARKET 1 | Choose whole fruits and vegetables. Precut packaged produce is processed in commercial kitchens, where cross-contamination may be common. 2 | Check fresh produce for bruises or cuts—that’s how bacteria can get in. 3 | If it’s warm out or you aren’t going straight home from the store, bring an insulated bag to help keep cold foods cold.  4 | Shop refrigerated and frozen foods last. To protect your hands and other foods from potentially harmful bacteria, use an inside-out produce bag to pick up packages of raw meat, poultry, and fish, then turn it right side out around the item. Pack raw meat in a separate shopping bag from other foods. If you use cloth bags, be sure to wash them often and in hot…

Act quickly. Follow the appropriate steps ASAP to keep the stain from setting. And do this first. Test a small, out-of-the-way spot to see how it handles a stain remover. If you note fading or other damage, you may need professional help—a dry cleaner or carpet or upholstery cleaning service. Mix up a cleaning solution. Use this recipe: ¼ teaspoon dishwashing liquid, like Dawn, to 1 cup lukewarm water. Protect your surfaces. Use a white microfiber cloth or paper towels to avoid transferring colored dye to whatever you’re cleaning. Avoid harsh abrasives. Stiff brushes, steel wool, sandpaper-y surfaces, and even baby toothbrushes can spread stains, harm fibers, and leave lasting marks. Some hard surfaces such as natural stone counter-tops require a paste made with 1 tablespoon baking soda and 2 tablespoons water…

A little stress may actually help you create stronger memories, some new research suggests. But chronic stress can do the opposite, says Gary Small, MD. That’s because it may shrink the brain’s memory center and make it harder to retrieve the information stored there. You can’t avoid all stress, but a few minutes of deep breathing can help buffer your brain against its negative effects. That’s why Small advises taking several short, stress-subduing breaks throughout the day. Here’s how: Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and imagine yourself in a soothing setting such as a beach. Breathe in deeply through your nose to the count of four, hold your breath to the count of seven, and exhale for eight. Repeat the series for 5 minutes or so. This…

HOW MANY HOMEOWNERS does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Just one, but when the fixture hangs from a 12-foot ceiling, it’s no joke. Even if you’re the handy type who has always clambered up ladders and wielded tools, there comes a time when the risk outweighs the reward. What if you lose your balance? It’s just not worth it. Sure, in some cases you could phone a friend or family member. But it often makes more sense to find someone else to do the work. Yet you can’t exactly call an electrician to change that lightbulb, a contractor to de-squeak a single door hinge, or a mover to haul an armchair to the curb. Dozens of tasks fall into this category: relatively small yet requiring strength or special…

I’M PHIL RADFORD, and as the new president and CEO of Consumer Reports, I’m honored to be connecting with CR’s members here for the first time. Joining CR has been both a dream come true and a return to my professional roots working at consumer watchdog organizations. From tackling abusive banking fees at Public Interest Research Group to challenging unfair economic policies at Public Citizen, fighting for consumer rights and protections has been a decades-long passion, and I’m deeply excited to continue that work. I also have a personal connection to CR. As a parent—like so many others, I suspect—I spent many nights desperately trying to coax my newborn back to sleep while also going through CR’s reporting about the latest recalls, what to buy, and what will keep my…

Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers WE TESTED: 65 models WE TEST FOR: Ease of handling (pushing, pulling, and turning the mower). On battery mowers we also assess how much grass can be cut on a full charge, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 73 Range: 55-88 BEST BATTERY-POWERED Greenworks MO80L421 $800 FAST MOWING & CHARGING Ryobi RYPM8010 $2,000 GREAT GAS MODEL, BUT NOISY Craftsman M320 $480 Garbage Disposals WE TESTED: 42 continuous-feed models WE TEST FOR: How quickly and finely a model grinds beef bones and vegetable scraps; how noisy it is during use, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 47 Range: 17-81 SPEEDY & POWERFUL (1¼ HP) Frigidaire FF13DISPC1 $175 GRINDS VERY FINELY (1 HP) GE GFC1020N $250 QUIETER OPERATION (1 HP) Moen EX Series EXL100C $290 Ask Our Experts Are there any…

ESTIMATED YEARLY ENERGY COST This is the approximate amount you’ll pay for the model over one year. It takes into account both the amount of energy required to operate the appliance and to heat water, if that’s required. ESTIMATED YEARLY ELECTRICITY USE This shows how much energy in kilowatthours (kWh) the appliance uses in one year. For a washing machine, for example, this estimate is based on the average energy used per wash cycle multiplied by the number of cycles run per year. The label uses national averages—but electricity rates vary by location, so also look at the bulleted information below it to help you estimate your actual costs. COST RANGE OF SIMILAR MODELS This scale helps you compare the model you’re considering to others of the same type. The…

PATIO PAL Permasteel 80-qt. Classic $200 This cooler has plenty of room—it can fit 110 12-ounce cans—and a fun retro look. In our tests, it did a great job of keeping its contents cold: After 26 hours, there was still unmelted ice inside. One caveat: The wheels were noisy when we rolled it around. CR SAVINGS 15% OFF USE CODE CRSTEEL15 AT PERMASTEEL.LIFE* YARD CARE HELP Worx WG185 (left) $270 Worx WG186 (right) $300 Both of these tools excelled in our performance tests. They trimmed grass neatly, edged walkways quickly, and cut weeds well. They’re also easy to handle, comfortable to hold, and quiet. Worx string trimmers earn high marks for predicted reliability in our member surveys, too. CR SAVINGS 20% OFF USE CODE CRWORX20 AT WORX.COM GO-ANYWHERE FAN JisuLife…

Sprouts The seeds used to grow alfalfa and bean sprouts can be tainted with bacteria from the soil. They are also sprouted in water in warm, humid environments—ideal conditions for germ growth. REDUCE THE RISK: Avoid eating raw sprouts. Instead, cook them to kill any bacteria. Raw Shellfish Shellfish—like oysters and clams—can be contaminated with bacteria such as vibrio, which naturally occurs in coastal waters, and norovirus, which is typically from untreated human sewage. Both cause vomiting and diarrhea, and norovirus also easily spreads from person to person. REDUCE THE RISK: Cook to 145° F. Discard any with open shells before cooking or closed shells after cooking. Ground Meat and Poultry Cooking is likely to kill surface bacteria on whole cuts like steak or chicken breast. But grinding mixes surface bacteria…

“Maintaining a safe food supply is a fundamental public health priority,” says Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at CR. To do that, these improvements to the food production and distribution system must be made. Make the recall process faster. Ronholm says it’s vital that the Food and Drug Administration continue to move forward with its Food Traceability Rule, set to take effect in 2026. The rule mandates that companies maintain records that contain key data and tracking information to increase the speed of recalls. Keep bad bacteria out of our food. CR has long pushed for the Department of Agriculture to declare salmonella in poultry an adulterant so that it could not legally be sold to consumers. (The USDA has already made this move for salmonella found in raw stuffed…

1 Are you insured? The handyperson should have a certificate of insurance (COI). Also confirm that the pro is compliant with any required licensing in your area. 2 Who will do the work? If another helper is coming over, find out about their credentials and how long they’ve been working with the pro you’re hiring. Along the same lines, when a handyperson who hasn’t been personally referred comes to your home for the first time, you might want to have a partner or friend around to make you feel more comfortable, and take safety precautions with valuables, says Ira Rheingold, executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. 3 Have you done this type of thing before? A pro might be a jack of all trades but a master…

BMW X3 The redesigned BMW X3 is more powerful and has better equipment, but its just-right size and overall proportions remain the same. Access in and out is easy, and the cabin is both comfortable and futuristic. CR’S TAKE The X3 is delightful to drive. Its firm suspension gives it confidence-inspiring agility and a composed ride. The turbo-four powertrain makes the X3 quick while also achieving an impressive EPA-rated fuel economy of 29 mpg combined. Overall, the X3 is a nimble, luxurious, and polished small SUV. BASE PRICE RANGE $49,950-$64,700 DESTINATION CHARGE $1,175 PRICE AS DRIVEN $56,860 AHEAD OF THE CURVE Learn How to Escape Your Car The door handles (both inside and out) on many new vehicles require electricity to work. If you’re in a collision that cuts the power,…

Even cars that don’t rank high in overall satisfaction can excel in ways that matter to you, such as how comfortable they are or whether the infotainment system is easy to use. Similarly, some models with high satisfaction scores may have issues that will make you want to consider other options. For this section, we asked owners to rate their satisfaction when considering their vehicle’s seat and cabin comfort, driving, cabin storage, in-cabin experience and usability, and ownership cost. Their feedback and corresponding scores will help you identify standout models. Use these charts to guide you toward cars that are most likely to deliver on what you want from your next car. HOW WE RATE SATISFACTION: Results are from the 2024 Annual Auto Surveys, involving more than 300,000 vehicles. Data…

MIDSIZED THREE-ROW SUVs Chevrolet Traverse A Comfy Cruiser With a Noisy Engine OVERALL SCORE THE REDESIGNED TRAVERSE remains a solid option in the midsized three-row SUV segment. It isn’t the quietest, best-riding, or most refined in the category, but it does many other things well. Its roomy cabin and spacious cargo area are high points. But it has a big new demerit: its raspy-sounding turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which replaced a polished V6. DRIVING EXPERIENCE The 328-hp, 2.5-liter turbo-charged four-cylinder works well, providing strong acceleration along with a fairly smooth-shifting transmission. But the small engine often sounds like it’s laboring, with a loud, unrefined snarl. It remains competitively quick within the class, but its 20 mpg overall trails some rivals that use a smoother six-cylinder. The Traverse has a settled and controlled…

LUXURY 3-ROW SUVs LEXUS TX $55,140-$77,210 KIA TELLURIDE $36,390-$53,685 THE BETTER DEAL THE LOWDOWN READ A DESCRIPTION of the Lexus TX and it seems packed with promise, outfitted with all the luxury features one would expect in a high-end SUV. But in person it’s actually a bit basic for the money. The Kia Telluride, on the other hand, impresses us year after year for its combination of a smooth V6, comfortable ride, and quiet, well-designed interior. And even the highest trim level costs less than the base price for the Lexus TX. AIR PURIFIERS DYSON BIG + QUIET BP03 $1,000 BLUEAIR BLUE PURE 511i MAX $140 THE BETTER DEAL THE LOWDOWN BOTH OF THESE MODELS will do an impressive job of cleaning the air in a midsized room (150 to 350 square…

TIP Get Sharper Images If you just point and shoot, your phone’s camera automatically picks a focus point, which may leave your intended subject out of focus and too dark or light. To control this, tap on your subject on the screen before you click the shutter button. This ensures that the focus is set to your intended target. (On an iPhone, a yellow box will pop up to confirm focus.) For multiple shots of the same subject, press your finger down until “AE/AF Lock” appears on your screen. This locks focus and exposure, preventing shifts between photos. TIP Fix Imperfections Make a good photo even better by removing unwanted elements, like a nearby trash can. Some newer smartphones have AI tools to remove distractions. On Samsung phones, look for…

FORD EXPLORER & LINCOLN AVIATOR SUVs Ford is recalling 240,510 2020-2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs because they may have improperly secured seat belt buckle or seat belt retractor anchor bolts, which may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash. Owners may also notice noise—squeaking and rattling—if their vehicle has improperly secured anchor bolts. What to do: Ford and Lincoln dealerships will inspect and, if necessary, replace any seat belt assemblies that weren’t put together properly. NHTSA’s campaign number is 25V093, and Ford’s own number for this recall is 25S09. Owners may call Ford at 866-436-7332. LG ELECTRIC RANGES LG is recalling about 500,000 slide-in and freestanding electric ranges because the front-mounted knobs can be activated by accidental contact, posing a fire hazard. The ranges were sold at…

Salmonella ESTIMATED YEARLY ILLNESSES: 1.35 MILLION How it makes you sick: The bacteria destroy the cells that line your intestines, causing stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In some cases, the infection can spread to the bloodstream, triggering even more severe illness. Symptoms start: 6 hours to six days after exposure. Treatment: Severe cases may require antibiotics. If the infection spreads beyond the intestines and into the bloodstream, or if a person is severely dehydrated, hospitalization may be necessary. E. Coli (Escherichia coli) ESTIMATED YEARLY ILLNESSES: 265,000 How it makes you sick: The most dangerous types of E. coli are called STEC, for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which includes the O157:H7 strain that has been responsible for many outbreaks. Signs of an STEC infection are watery, often bloody, diarrhea; stomach…

In recent years, you’ve probably seen numerous advertisements for Prevagen, claiming that this jellyfish-derived supplement is clinically proven to remedy age-related memory loss. But now, after losing a seven-year lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission, the makers of this product are no longer allowed to make that assertion. So what about all the other supplements on drugstore shelves marketed for increasing brainpower and improving memory? For the most part, they’re not worthwhile, says Heather M. Snyder, PhD, senior vice president of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer’s Association. “No supplement has ever been proven to prevent, treat, or cure Alzheimer’s disease, or boost cognitive function or brain health,” she says. One dietary supplement that may offer some brain benefits is vitamin D, says Gary Small, MD, but only…

Hourly fees for small jobs and repairs range from $50 to $150 nationwide. Some pros charge a flat rate. Those who charge for in-person estimates might apply that fee to the cost of the job if you hire them. You can also ask if it’s possible to text tasks, photos, or videos to give the handyperson a sense of the scope of the job to get a firm estimate before they arrive, says Joseph Truini, a home improvement author in Roxbury, Conn. Travel to a rural area or through congested city streets could raise the price. So could problems unearthed midprocess. For example, a loose front step on your porch might reveal rotted support. Other factors that can raise the cost include: Drying Time Projects that require two visits will…

WANT TO BE SURE you’ll still love your next new car long after the warranty runs out? The easiest way is to use CR’s owner satisfaction ratings, which are based on responses from CR members—like you—on more than 300,000 cars, SUVs, trucks, and minivans, including electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). You’ve told us everything that you like about the cars you’re driving—such as low ownership costs and strong fuel economy—as well as what you don’t like—poor reliability, noisy cabins, and overly complicated controls. As a car buyer, having this kind of inside information is valuable because some headaches reveal themselves only after six months, a year, or longer. “You can tell during a test drive if there’s enough passenger space or if the brakes feel responsive,”…

EVERY CAR HAS its own language of light-up hieroglyphics on the dashboard. They’re your car’s way of asking for help. But those lights are not always easy to interpret. Regardless of what a warning light means, most manufacturers color-code them like a stoplight. Red generally means something serious has happened and the car should not be driven. Amber means caution: If the light stays on, get it checked at your earliest convenience. Green, blue, white, or sometimes yellow is usually for minor things like the windshield washer fluid needs refilling or an oil change is due. Here are some of the most common indicators, and advice from CR’s auto pros on what to do if they light up when you’re on the road. OIL PRESSURE OR COOLANT TEMPERATURE WHAT IT…